Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

The outline is based upon an increasingly intimate relationship with God:

I MY SHEPHERD - ‘He’ Is My Shepherd (1-3) II MY LIFE - ‘You’ Are My Shepherd (4-6)

INTRODUCTION :

“ A Psalm of David ”

This is one of seventeen Psalms that bear this simple title without musical instruction or historical background.

I. MY SHEPHERD - ‘He’ is My Shepherd (1-3)

“ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”(1)

Jesus is the ultimate shepherd of our lives: “ I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me…(Jn. 10:14) Each member of the flock has the privilege of an intimate relationship with the Great Shepherd that no earthly shepherd can ever replace. God sees us as sheep, animals that are fear- ful, guided by herding instincts and at times very unreasonable. Sheep are totally dependent upon the care of their shepherd for provision and protection. Peter tells us: ” Once you were wandering like lost sheep. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian (Bishop) of your souls.”(1 Pet. 2:25)

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures;”(2)

Jesus said: “ Those who come in through me will be saved. Wherever they go, they will find green pas- tures.” (Jn. 10:9) Sheep will only lie down when they are free from fear of predators, free from friction among the flock, free from pests and parasites and free from hunger 1 . Then they will rest, chew their cud, produce milk and grow in strength and size. The prophet Ezekiel speaks on God’s behalf: “ Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in lush mountain pastures.”(Ezekiel 34:14) “ He leads me beside the still waters.”(2) Jesus is the one who gives us the water of eternal life and refreshing of the Holy Spirit: “ for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. “ (Rev.7:17) Still waters can refer to the dew on the grass in the early morning 2 . Peaceful streams only occur when the water runs deep, that is where the Holy Spirit reaches into the depths of our souls.

“ He restores my soul;”(3)

Jesus is our shepherd and is concerned with every aspect of our lives: “ My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.” (Jn.10:10) Sometimes sheep will fall over on their back with their legs in the air be- cause of unfortunate circumstances such as having too much wool or being worried. They become ‘cast down’ or simply ‘cast’ sheep. They cannot get up from this state and would die unless the shepherd ‘re- stores’ and rescues them. Jesus wants to lift up the cast down soul to fullness of life.

“ He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”(3)

Jesus describes his shepherding role in our lives: “ After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice.”(Jn. 10:4) Sheep must constantly be led to new pastures or they will eat the old ones bare and erode the grass by creating deep rutted pathways. God leads us by his voice as he led David so long ago. “ …David asked the Lord, ‘Should I move back to Judah?’ And the lord replied, ‘Yes.” Then David asked, ‘ Which town should I go to?’ And the Lord replied, ‘Hebron.’”(2 Sam. 2:1) We must learn to be led by the voice of our shepherd as we pray and worship him.

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